I griped about spoiling myself on Danganronpa 2, so I was pleasantly surprised when the game addressed the issue directly and managed to deflate my frustration. Some of the endgame reveals actually make earlier awkward segments seem surprisingly well-written, like Monokuma's fourth-wall-breaking monologues having sound reasons once you know who's controlling him and who they're really speaking to. On the other hand much of the writing is still atrociously convoluted and arbitrary, so. Is it just me or was the "repeat" option summarily ignored by every single participant in the final trial, with no one ever bothering to explain what it would do? Despite the other options getting detailed, illustrated guides. I kept expecting it to be a way to save everyone on effectively a New Game+, but nope.

Yeah, I did. It took awhile for me to get to Death with Holy Water so I did try a bunch without it. I also got super close to beating Dracula with no sub weapons (he was 2 hits away) but since I couldnít predict his High Jumps I lost and used Holy Water there too.

On Monday, my wife and I finished Detroit: Become Human. I searched and it seems like there's been zero discussion since its release here, perhaps in part because everybody was cringing at the ham-handed storytelling, and because David Cage is a bad writer and worse person.

Well, I tell you with no pride that we enjoyed the game.

Critics aren't wrong about the bluntness - there is a ton of the Garth Marenghi "subtext is for cowards" school of storytelling. There is literally a part where an android is abused by a human as the phrase "THIS ISN'T FAIR" appears on screen. I confess that I did have a laugh at some of the especially embarrassing moments.

But! Some of the characterizations and relationships are better than the plot's heavy-handedness would lead you to expect. The game genuinely looks stunning. The choices you make in each chapter seem to have real impact. And the plot is at least making a good-faith effort at a message. That might seem like damning with faint praise, but consider the medium. I can count the number of games I've played in the past 5 years with good endings on one hand. The storytelling here can't touch NieR: Automata or Undertale, but not much can.

If pressed I'd say it makes me think of a Telltale game with a AAA budget, and the end result is at the level of "did you ever think about that, maaan" that I'd say Westworld or Mr. Robot occupy in television. Verdict: 3.5/5 - it's better than the ubiquitous dunking led me to believe, and a worthwhile gaming experience, but if you'd rather not support Quantic Dream I would not hold it against you.

Kirby: Triple Deluxe does everything well. Astounding art direction and musical chops, tremendous depth in experimenting with and executing its shockingly numerous play mechanics, an unparalleled eye for detail, exemplary use of the 3DS's 3D and gyro functions to augment the level design and presentation, a fluid and naturalistic level of difficulty depending on how many secrets you care to go after and search for, imaginative and engaging boss battles, beautiful bugs, and just an overwhelming sensation that every possible aspect of the whole was carefully considered and crafted.

The same attentiveness extends to the remix of the game in Dededetour, which transforms the previously lackadaisical poke-around-and-explore context of the stages into a mad dash time attack, with a higher risk-and-reward emphasis thanks to Dedede's heightened power and also his comparative frailty compared to Kirby. The DX versions of bosses introduced in that mode also make the True Arena a fitting coda to the game--it's when you truly have to learn their patterns and interact with the design in a more involved way, and that one last surprise at the end makes an incredibly compelling concluding argument for the approach.

It was okay, if really easy and it never really gelled at the end, and I could never really get past the main original character designs (though the OG callback characters were fun). Getting to use the Laevateinn in a videogame was pretty neat, even if it and every other unit in the game were wildly overshadowed by the usual Dynamic Pro cheese. I hear they made Mazinger ZERO a secret unit in X this time that you only get in the secret ending route instead of a regular upgrade halfway through the game. Which is good! I shouldn't be able to oneshot things outside a few bosses like that.

As far as budget Platinum games go, Transformers: Devastation is pretty good.

It may surprise you to learn that I still haven't played this title. It surprises me.

By the way, they're in a different genre, but if you're looking for more quality Transformers video game content, both War For Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron are probably some of the best underrated shooters out there. I'd stack 'em up against lots of other games that I don't have vested interest in.

Jurassic World Evolution is done. Really feels like a game that doesn't know what it wants to be and so fails at being anything well. Needs to lean into the mayhem, the dino breeding/battling, or the park building but it can't do all three well.

It may surprise you to learn that I still haven't played this title. It surprises me.

By the way, they're in a different genre, but if you're looking for more quality Transformers video game content, both War For Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron are probably some of the best underrated shooters out there. I'd stack 'em up against lots of other games that I don't have vested interest in.

Yes, both War and Fall are really, really fun. I like the former a bit better overall.

Jurassic World Evolution is done. Really feels like a game that doesn't know what it wants to be and so fails at being anything well. Needs to lean into the mayhem, the dino breeding/battling, or the park building but it can't do all three well.

Started with a Banker run then did a Farmer run; both were successful, though I did lose some people in the final river crossing mini game. On the one hand, it really shows just how huge of an improvement homage game Organ Trail* is (also the D-pad could be less horrible), but on the other hand, how awesome is it that there's a dedicated handheld device for an old PC simulation game?

I'll probably try a Carpenter run next, maybe see if I can beat my high score or intentionally try to fuck up.

* Organ Trail is The Oregon Trail if it was a post-apocalyptic zombie game. Generally I'm not into zombie games unless they're made by Capcom, but I love that this is a real thing.